Metal partition structure



" UUUIMII HUUIH E. w. NlcHoLsoN 2,322,051

METAL PARTITION STRUCTURE June l5, 1943.

Filed April 24. 1942 TOR yn'iullk l L',

Patented June l5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in partition structures. It relates particularly to an improved floor track and base assembly for use with such a structure.

An object is to provide an improved floor track and base assembly capable of securely supporting the foundation sheet, such as a metal lath or composition board sheet, of the partition and of being quickly assembled in place.

In providing a partition of this character it is common practice to employ sheets of metal lath held to the floor by a metal base and floor track assembly and secured to the ceiling by a simple ceiling strip and reinforced vertically by stud supports.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a floor track and metal base comprising cooperating floor track and base elements one of which is adapted to be secured to the floor and to in turn support the Wall foundation sheet of metal lath or other suitable material and the co-operating element of which is adapted to be quickly attached to the element secured to the floor and to likewise support the foundation sheet.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features of my improved structure will more fully appear from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a fragment of a partition embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a Vertical cross-section through a fragment of the partition and through `my improved floor track base assembly showing the fioor track and base elements disconnected, and

Fig. 5 is a cross section through a fragment showing composition board substituted for the metal lath of Figs. 1 through 4.

Partitions of this type are used in buildings wherever desired and seat upon a floor foundation such as I0 of the drawing and are connected at their upper margin to a ceiling such as I2 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The partition may be finished with an outer wall of plaster I4 as shown. The backbone of the partition may be the metal lath sheet I6 which is here illustrated as provided With vertical reinforcing stiffening ribs I8. Such a lath sheet is shown in my Patent No. 2,263,814, dated November 25, 1941. Other types of metal lath or foundation sheets such :as composition flber board may be used if desired.

The improvement here claimed consists in the provision of an improved floor track and base assembly and its association with the foundation sheet as illustrated. It comprises a pair of cooperating oor track and base elements. There is a primary element indicated generally as 20 and a secondary element indicated generally as 22. Each element is generally channel-shaped in cross-section. The bottom of the channel constitutes a base portion and one side wall constitutes a floor track flange and the opposite side wall constitutes a spacer flange.

Considering the primary element, the bottom of the channel 24 constitutes the base portion and the side wall 26 constitutes the floor track flange and the side wall 28 constitutes the spacer flange. With respect to the secondary element, the bottom 30 of the channel constitutes the base portion, the side wall 32 constitutes the floor track fiange and the side wall 34 constitutes the spacer flange.

The floor track flange 26 of the primary element is of substantially greater width than the spacer flange of such element and is secured to the floor I0 by suitable means such as nails 36. The floor track flange projects outwardly beyond the nails and this outward projecting portion is held resiliently toward the floor. The structure of the flange is such that this resilient characteristic is present. This outer marginal portion is provided with a bead 38 extending along the margin and projecting upwardly from the floor as shown particularly in Fig. 4. Between this bead and the spacer fiange is seated the metal lath sheet I6 or other partition foundation sheet as shown.

The floor track flange 32 of the secondary element is of substantially less width than the spacer flange 34 of such element and is provided with a marginal bead 40 adapted to co-operatively engage the bead 38 of the flange of the primary element as shown in Fig. 2. At such time the spacer flanges 28 and 34 engage opposite sides of the foundation sheet I6 and are held resiliently thereagainst by the interlocked connection between the elements 22 and 24. Connections 25 may be used as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to hold the spacer flanges together.

Considering the structure shown in Figs. 1 through 4, the spacer flange 28 of the primary element 20 engages the metal lath sheet I6 on the side opposite the upright V-ribs I8 and the spacer flange 34 of secondary element 22 engages directly against the V-ribs I8. While the spacer fianges shown in the drawing are of emml width and the expanded metal expanse of. the metal lath sheet I6 is therefore somewhat offset as to the vertical centerline of the partition it is apparent that the spacer flanges 28 and 34 might be of different width so that the metal lath sheet would be disposed directly upon the centerline of the partition.

It is also apparent that the foundation sheet may be made of any desired gauge, weight, and stock, or character of formation, or of any suitable material. In Fig. the foundation sheet is shown as a two ply composition board sheet l1. The two plies are here shown as wire stitched together at I9 though obviously such plies might be secured together in any suitable manner as for instance by adhesive. On the other hand a single ply of any suitable thickness might be used if desired. The connections 25 might also be used, extending through provided apertures, not shown, in the composition board.

In erecting the partition the primary element 24 is attached to the floor by the nails 36 and the metal lath sheet or other foundation sheet is disposed thereon. Adjacent endwise sections of this element may be brought into abutting engagement as shown in Fig 1 and a splice plate 42 shown in Fig. 3 and in dotted outline in Fig. l may be inserted. This splice plate has a width adapted to be snugly received overlying the base portion 24 of the element between the spacer flange 28 and the flange 26 as shown in Fig, 1. A corresponding splice plate 44 may be provided for correspondingly abutted ends of the secondary element sections.

During the erection of the partition the primary element is first attached to the floor. The metal lath is then seated thereupon. When it is desired to secure the secondary element in place it is evident that the bead portion 38 of the primary element may be yieldingly lifted sufficiently to permit the bead 40 of the secondary element to be received thereunder and such bead portions will then snap into interlocking engagement and the resilient character of the marginal portion which embodies the bead 38 of the floor track flange of the primary element will hold the floor flange of the secondary element snugly upon the floor and secure the secondary element in place with its spacer flange engaging the ribs of the lath.

This application is a substitute for and a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 398,822, filed June 19, 1941.

What I claim:

1. A floor track and base assembly for a partition structure comprising a primary element and a co-operating secondary element, each floor track and base element being generally channel shaped in cross section and with the bottom of the channel constituting an upright base portion and one side wall of the channel constituting a floor track flange and the other side wall of the channel constituting a spacer flange, said primary element having a floor track flange of substantially greater width than its spacer flange and adapted to be secured to a floor and to in turn support a sheet of metal lath, said floor track flange having a bead extending along its margin, said secondary element having a floor track flange of substantially less width than its spacer flange, said floor track flange of the secondary element having a bead extending along its margin and adapted to co-operatively engage the bead of the floor track flange of the primary element to secure the base elements together on opposite sides of the lath sheet.

2. A partition structure comprising, in combination with a floor and a partition foundation sheet extending upwardly therefrom, a floor track and base assembly including a primary element secured to the floor and a secondary element cooperating with the primary element, each element being generally channel shaped in cross section and with the bottom of the channel constituting an upright base portion and one side wall of the channel constituting a oor track flange and the other side wall of the channel constituting a spacer flange, the floor track flange of the primary element having a width substantially greater than the width of the spacer flange of the element, said floor track flange being secured to the floor along an intermediate longitudinal line, that portion of said floor track flange projecting outwardly beyond its line of securement to the floor being resiliently held toward the floor and provided with an upwardly projecting marginal bead, the floor track flange of the secondary element being of substantially less width than the floor track flange of the primary element and having a marginal bead receivable underneath the marginal bead of the primary element and interlocked therewith holding said elements together, said partition foundation sheet positioned between said elements and engaged on opposite sides by the spacer flanges thereof and seated upon the floor track flange of the primary element between its bead and the base portion of the element.

3. A floor track and base assembly for a partition structure comprising a pair of co-operating floor track and base elements each element being generally channel shaped in cross-section and with the bottom of the channel constituting a base portion and one side wall of the channel constituting a floor track flange and the other side wall of the channel constituting a spacer flange, the floor track flange of one element being of substantially greater width than the spacer flange of said element and adapted to be secured to the floor and constituting a seat for the lath sheet, the other element having a floor track portion of substantially less width than its spacer flange, said floor track flanges adapted to be cooperatively interlocked together with the spacer flanges of the elements adapted to engage a lath sheet disposed between said elements.

. floor track and base elements, each element being generally channel shaped in cross-section and with the bottom of the channel constituting a base portion and one side wall of the channel constituting a floor track flange and the other side wall of the channel constituting a spacer flange, one element having a floor track flange of substantially greater width than its spacer flange and adapted to be secured to the floor and having a bead extending along its free margin, the other element having a floor track portion of substantially less width than `its spacer flange and provided with a marginal bead adapted to be interlocked with the bead oi the first element to cooperatively secure the floor track flanges ol' the elements together with the spacer flanges adapted to engage a lath sheet disposed between said elements, the spacer flanges of the two elements provided at linearly spaced intervals with apertures, tie clips extending between the spacer flanges and engaged in such apertures, and a splice plate seated between the floor track flange and the spacer flange of one element overlying the base portion of the element and projecting beyond one end thereof to correspondingly engage an endwise adjacent element.

5. A partition structure comprising a partition foundation sheet extending upright from a floor, a floor track and base assembly comprising a primary element and a cooperating secondary element, each element being generally channel shaped in cross-section and with the bottom of the channel constituting an upright base portion and one side wall of the channel constituting a floor track flange and the other side wall of the channel constituting a spacer flange, said primary element having its floor track flange secured to the floor and extending underneath the bottom margin of the partition foundation sheet and having its base portion extending upright on one side of the partition foundation sheet and its spacer flange engaging such side of said foundation sheet, the floor track flange of the primary element having a marginal portion disposed on the opposite side of the partition foundation sheet'frorn the base portion and adapted to cooperatively engage the floor track flange of the secondary element, said secondary element having a floor track flange cooperatively engaged with the floor track flange of the primary element securing said elements together and having its spacer flange engaging the foundation sheet and means extending through the foundation sheet securing said spacer flanges together.

6. A partition structure comprising, in combination with a floor and a partition sheet extending upright therefrom, a pair of cooperating floor track and base members, each member being generally channel-shaped in cross section and with the bottom of the channel constituting an upright base portion and one side wall of the channel constituting a floor track flange and the other side wall of the channel constituting a spacer flange, said members disposed on opposide sides of the partition sheet and with the floor track flange of one member secured to the floor and extending underneath the bottom edge of such partition sheet and means connecting said members together and holding their spacer flanges against the partition sheet including cooperatively interlocked portions of the floor track flanges of said members.

7. A partition structure comprising, in combination with a floor and a partition sheet extending upright therefrom, a primary base member, a secondary base member, said primary base member being generally channel shaped in cross section and with the bottom of the channel constituting an upright base portion and one side wail of the channel constituting a floor track flange and the other side wall of the channel constituting a spacer flange, the floor `track flange of the primary member being secured to the floor and extending underneath the bottom margin of the partition sheet with the base portion of said member extending upright from the floor upon one side of and spaced from the partition sheet and with the spacer flange of said member projecting inwardly toward and engaging such side of the partition sheet, said secondary base member disposed upon the opposite side of the partition sheet and having a base portion extending upright from the floor and lnterlocked along the floor with the floor track flange of the primary base member spacing the secondary member along the floor from the partition sheet, said secondary member having a spacer flange projecting toward and engaging the adjacent side of the partition sheet, and means connecting the spacer flanges of said two base members together.

8. A partition structure comprising, in combination with a floor and a partition foundation sheet extending upright from the floor, a base member disposed upon one side of the partition foundation sheet along the floor, said base member'bing channel shaped in cross section and with one side wall of the channel constituting a floor track flange secured to the floor and extending underneath the partition foundation sheet and with the other side w-all'of the channel constituting a spacer flange projecting toward and engaging the adjacent side of the partition foundation sheet and with the bottom of the channel disposed upright with respect to the floor and spaced from the partition foundation sheet by said flanges, a second base member disposed upon the opposite side of the partition foundation sheet along the floor and having a base portion disposed upright with respect to the floor and provided along its bottom margin with means interlocked with the marginal portion of the floor track flange of the rst base member spacing said members apart and from the partition foundation sheet at the floor, said second base member having a spacer flange projecting toward and engaging the adjacent side of the partition foundation sheet, and means extending through the partition foundation sheet securing the spacer flanges of said members together.

9. A wall structure comprising, in combination with a floor and a wall sheet extending upright therefrom, a pair of cooperating base members disposed on opposite sides of the wall sheet, each member being generally channel shaped in crosssection and with the bottom of each channel constituting an upright base portion and one side wall of each channel constituting a floor track flange and the other side wall of each channel constituting a spacer flange, said spacer flanges spacing the top edges of said base members from the wall sheet, the floor track flange of one base member extending underneath the bottom edge of the wall sheet and secured to the floor along a line spaced from the free margin of said flange holding said margin resiliently toward the floor, the floor track flange of the other base member received underneath said free margin and interlocked therewith.

10. A wall structure comprising, in combination with a floor and `a. wall sheet extending upright therefrom, a pair of cooperating base members disposed on opposite sides of the wall sheet, each member being generally channel shaped in crosssection and with the bottom of each channel constituting an upright base portion and one side wall of each channel constituting a floor track flange and the other side wall of each channel constituting a spaced flange, said spacer flanges spacing the top edges of said base members from the wall sheet, the floor track flange of one base member extending underneath the bottom edge of the wall sheet and secured to the floor along a line spaced from the free margin of said flange holding said margin resiliently toward the floor, said flange having an upraised bead extending along said margin, the floor track flange of the other base member having a bead extending along its margin receivable underneath the bead of the floor track flange of the first ba member for interlocking engagement therew 11. A wall structure comprising, in combination with a floor and a Wall sheet extending upright therefrom, a pair of cooperating base members disposed on opposite sides of the wall sheet, one base member being channel shaped in cross-section and. with the bottom of the channel constituting 4an upright base portion and one side wall of the channel constituting a floor track flange extending underneath the bottom edge of the wall sheet and secured to the floor, and the other side wall of the channel constituting a spacer flange spacing the top of the upright base portion from the wall sheet, the other base member cornprising an upright base portion having means along irs bottom edge lnterlocked with the floor track flange of the first mentioned base member, and having an angularly extending spacer flange along its top edge spacing the same from the wall sheet, and means connecting the spacer flanges of the two members together.

12. A partition structure comprising, in combination with a floor and a multiply composition board partition foundation sheet extending upright from the floor, a base member disposed upon one side of the partition foundation sheet along the floor, said base member being channel shaped in cross section and with one side wall of the channel constituting a floor track flange secured to the floor and extending underneath the partition foundation sheet and with the vother side wall of the channel constituting a spacer flange projecting toward and engaging the adjacent side of the partition foundation sheet and with the bottom of the channel disposed upright with respect to the floor and spaced from the partition foundation sheet by said flanges, a second base member disposed upon the opposite side of the partition foundation sheet along the floor and having a base portion disposed upright with respect to the floor and provided along its top margin with a spacer flange projecting towards and engaging the adjacent side of the partition foundation sheet and provided along its bottom margin with means interlocked with the marginal portion of the floor track flange of the first base member spacing said members apart and from the partition foundation sheet at the floor and holding the spacer' flange of said second member against the partition foundation sheet.

13. A wall structure comprising, in combination with a floor and a composition board wall sheet extending upright therefrom, a pair of cooperating base members disposed on opposite sides of the wall sheet, each member being generally channel shaped in cross-section and with the bottom of each channel constituting an upright base portion and one side wall of each channel constituting a floor track flange and the other :fide wall of each channel constituting a spacer flange, said spacer flanges spacing the top edges of said base members from the wall sheet, the floor track flange of one base member extending underneath the bottom edge of the wall sheet and secured to the floor along a line spaced from the free margin of said flange holding said margin resiliently toward the floor, the floor track flange of the other base member received underneath said free margin and interlocked therewith and holding said base member spaced at the floor from the wall sheet.

EDWARD W. NICHOLSON. 

